Quality tap and die set recommendation

[SEV22XS]

So how in the world makes a good quality complete tap and die set ? Looking for metric and standard taps and ties. Something from small up 1/2 or better.
My mentor has an old craftsman set that seems very complete but I can't seem anything like that now it all seems to come from china and or just be small cheap sets.

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

Irwin makes a good set and can be had pretty reasonable at Tooltopia or such... just do a google search.

Good Luck !!

 

[jakemac]

What about Hansen ?

EDIT - Whoops, sorry. Hansen is part of the Irwin family.

 

[SEV22XS]

Yeah same old cheap stuff half set thanks for the heads up.

 

[toolnut]

I have the large Snap On set with standard and metric.Not sure if they still offer that. Once in a while I'll see a Vermont American dual set on ebay but you want the older sets that were made in the USA before Bosch ruined them.

 

[Tronyadorable]

You chasing or threading ? I use a set of Vermont American 58 pc. Had it for years. I chase every thread when rebuilding something and the taps hold up well for fabbing mild steel or annealed tool steel.I don't know if they're still USA but they still have them for $200 or so if you hunt a little. A real machinist might laugh at them but they're fine for us grease monkey types.

 

[x1buellist]

I found some vintage tap and die collections on ebay for a very reasonable price. Bought a few different peoples collections and now have more vintage, american made, quality tap and dies than I know what to do with. They often come with nice tap and die holding tools also.

 

[mikehaugen]

Yeah same old cheap stuff half set thanks for the heads up.

Are you sure? My work purchased (about 3 years ago) an irwin set that goes to 1/2 and 12mm both course and fine including dies and some drill buts for around $300. Doesn't seem like a bad set, though irwin taps never impressed me all that much.

Be leary of the SO set, as I have a suspicion they are re-branded irwin for 2x the price. I know their multi-spline extractors are... and the taps feel the same.

 

[Askme42]

Irwin makes a good set and can be had pretty reasonable at Tooltopia or such... just do a google search.

Good Luck !!

I missed out on this set with the Home Depot clearance of all things irwin. Not very happy with myself.

 

[WILD-BILL]

I'm starting to think the Older Craftsman and Vermont weren't made by the same place.

I have an old craftsman set I bought 15 yrs ago or so which sounds like what the OP is refering too and it looks exactly like this NOS Vermont set I found

At least the case and layout is the same.

Here's the Craigslist ad for that one.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tld/4682079641.html

I did see a few others while I was looking

 

[SEV22XS]

Occasionally both thread and chase just depends on what I'm doing. Mostly chasing.

 

[Sea_Chicken1]

I really like the Snap On tap & die sets. A tap & die set is a precision set that you should spend a little more money on for quality.

 

[K-Dog]

I have a Matco set.
Half the challenge is knowing the right way to use them.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I'm starting to think the Older Craftsman and Vermont weren't made by the same place.

I have an old craftsman set I bought 15 yrs ago or so which sounds like what the OP is refering too and it looks exactly like this NOS Vermont set I found

At least the case and layout is the same.

Here's the Craigslist ad for that one.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tld/4682079641.html

I did see a few others while I was looking

The older crafstman was vermont American. I just bought an old ,made in USA, Crafstman set that is identical set to the set you showed for $200 on ebay. I bought the Large SAE only Crafstman set in the 80s for $179 (if my memory is correct) and it has held up well. I still kick myself for not buying the metric set back then. The SAE/metric set was the only one I could find after looking for a while recently so I bought it.


If you want a good set, I would get the set in the above post, if it is the older made in USA set.

Chris

Here are my Crafstman sets. Vermont American sets still look the same, but I don't think they are made in The USA anymore.

 

[MattPersman]

Irwin has a 76 piece set 26376 for around 200 bucks gear wrench has sets too.

 

[gsingh]

I'll recommend the 76 piece Snap-On one. I know the is high, but SO will warranty any of the pieces in there. I pray that I don't have to use them, but it is needed once in a while for chasing threads.
I know this thing is the same as Irwin, but I don't know what their warrenty is like.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I'll recommend the 76 piece Snap-On one. I know the is high, but SO will warranty any on the pieces in there.

Snap on will give a warrantee on a tap? If so, that is a good warrantee.

Chris

 

[gsingh]

Snap on will give a warrantee on a tap? If so, that is a good warrantee.

Chris

My driver does and better too, after all the money I spend with him.

 

[spoon671]

Sowa. And OSG.

 

[Mr. T]

I like American machine tools. But used is used and dull is dull. Unless you can check it out first person don't buy used taps and dies.

 

[Jawn]

Irwin has a 76 piece set 26376 for around 200 bucks gear wrench has sets too.

I have this set and I like it. I did manage to break a tap, but it's because I was a little too "gorillafied" in cutting new threads in a steel bar. A trip to Ace found me an exact replacement.

 

[logixjock]

The OP said QUALITY..... I bought empty cases and am buying Greenfield in the sizes I need until I have a full set. Have the 41pc Hanson metric and standard cases almost full and just started on the 9/16" - 1" case a couple of weeks ago when I needed a 1" tap for a project.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My mentor has an old Craftsman set that seems very complete but I can't seem anything like that now it all seems to come from china and or just be small cheap sets.

Got one. Works well !

 

[IndyGarage]

Has anybody used the New Irwin Performance Threading System Kit. Good reviews across the board on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006WZOGPM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BFHtime]

The Snap-On dies are adjustable. They have a set screw for fine adjustment. I was tempted to get them, and my driver offered me a good price; but I have an old craftsman set which are in good condition. They are different and nicer, but I do not need them YET.

 

[rshadd]

I have an older 76-piece Craftsman set that I bought on eBay a few years ago. It's a nice set and has served my needs. It's looks just like the Vermont American set, but was made in the USA.

 

[WILD-BILL]

I have an older Made in the USA Craftsman 76-piece set that I bought on eBay a few years ago. It's a nice set and has served my needs.

Yep, that's the same set I have. Funny thing is I replaced the screw driver with another pipe tap as well

 

[espyking83]

I really like the Snap On tap & die sets. A tap & die set is a precision set that you should spend a little more money on for quality.

Yeah, I've used the SO set and think they work very well. Pretty sure they are re-brands but not 100% sure. I know their extractor set is amazing.


BTW, does anyone know of a good T&D set that only has the smaller SAE sizes? Only need up to 9/16" at the most. Well, just a die set? Taps are free at work.

 

[toolnut]

I see Norseman has tap and die sets. There drill bits are outstanding so these are probably of the same quality. http://www.norsemandrill.com/pdf/norSection/201409NTD.pdf

 

[toolnut]

i see another posting here that had some deals on the Norseman stuff. Would be nice if they had that again. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239330

 

[BFHtime]

I believe there is a difference between older and newer Snap-On tap and die sets. The newer ones have 12 point dies. I have an older craftsman set that is similar to several other manufacturers because they probably all subcontract to the same company. They have different colored plastic cases and a different sticker. My old craftsman set has been doing well. I only ever broke one tryingo recut a deep titanium hole. I have a HSS set. There are different grades of the sets also. Mine is not the best nor he worst.

 

[JoeFin]

Pretty easy to see not too many guys here do any real tapping and threading

Vermont - used to be good but has gone the way of the Dodo and out sourced to China or India and has some pretty brittle taps. Not much good except for soft allows

Hanson is a bit better as they have been annealed properly and won't break off in the hole, but you won't get a lot of life out of them. You can watch them twist, but they start twisting pretty soon as the edge has worn off

Erwin - Never was any good that I know of and is bottom feeder stuff - wouldn't touch it under any condition

As for Snap On, Craftsman - don't have too much experience with them other then a few times with Craftsman. Don't remember what I was cutting - so no comment.


IF YOU CAN FIND THEN - and a Night and Day difference from the sets listed above

The Best Taps and Dies by far are Moorse, Butterfield, Greenfield even pre-1980s Vermont-American for the older stuff but there is still some NOS out there. Titain, OSG for the newer stuff.

Keep some Half Round polishing stones in your set and de-burr / clean the flutes after use and your taps will last for decades

Nothing worse then a tap broke off in a hard to replace / impossible to replace part that is a must have.

 

[cheechi]

The difference between the SO & Irwin sets are the SO warranty replacement. The difference between the Vermont American dies I have vs those cman sets recommended are round vs hex dies. I like mine very much.

Is the Matco set also Irwin or is it GW now?

I wouldn't buy a set honestly. Coming from someone with several sets of never used sizes. If you have to have a set because of work requirements or to feel better, buy a middle of the road set and replace the sizes you break. My HF Titanium set has been surprisingly good and I kind of still wish I hadn't bought it since I've used 2 sizes of it.

It's come in helpful to have dies to tell what thread pitch something is for sure. but that shouldn't need a full set to really accomplish the same goal.

 

[tarbellb]

I have the USA Irwins, pretty good, not amazing.

I told myself I wouldnt buy a Asian made T&D set but really needed a metic. GearWrench has a big set on sale right now that I have been very impressed with so far. Made in Taiwan.

 

[BFHtime]

Snap-on and Irwin are not the same. Maybe back when Irwin was a US made brand, but they are no longer a good brand. Maybe a good cheap brand, now. Look them up they are not the same. I have seen pictures of older stuff that looked the same, probably similar to the old craftsman set that I have, but not today the new stuff is obviously different.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yep, that's the same set I have.

Me 3 ! I think mine is a bit older.

 

[Boredmechanic]

+1 on the SO set

 

[bob15]

Buy individual adjustable dies and 3 piece taps (bottoming, middle and starter).

I personally like Greenfield and Cleveland brands. Tin coated are even nicer.